Kachchh trip by KOJAIN Youths 2003-3004

____________________Comments By: Rajiv Jain of Virginia__________________

After the 10 days I spent in Kutch there is no way I can adequately describe how incredible the place is. There is something about the people, villages, and landscapes of Kutch that can't be captured in a photograph or a paper. I can only hope that what I write gives you some idea of what I experienced.

The first thing that caught my eye as I stepped into Kutch was the warmth and strength in each individual's personality. Every person I met had such a glowing, genuine smile. No matter what the person was doing, whether it was tending their business, herding cattle, or balancing 50 pounds on their head, there was a distinct Kutchi grin on their face.

As Pravin Uncle, a knowledgeable newspaper reporter who accompanied us to Bhuj, said, "Hidden talent can be found everywhere you look in Kutch". For example, our group was fortunate to meet Sushma Ayengar, who talked about her work in going village to village promoting Woman's rights as well as her leading role in Abhiyan, a long term disaster relief organization. Every person of our 10 member group was captivated by her bold vision for Kutchis as well as her humbleness, dedication, and keen intellect as she spoke. Our group was also lucky to run across Vasant Uncle, who modestly mentioned that he knew some folk dancing, as we were visiting the Sadhna Ashram. After asking him to teach us, we found out he had performed across India and even in Russia. He graciously gave up an hour of his time and shared his expertise and great teaching ability with a few simple Kutchi garba steps. At Veeraytan we met a young lady who was working there with an unbelievable voice, which she shared only at our request. As she started singing "maru prabhu tu itna kaho, tumaraliye mein kya karu" everyone in the building stopped whatever they were doing and came to listen. I am sure if she wanted to she could become a famous professional singer, but instead she is working happily at Veeraytan. While these are only a few of the people we had the privilege of meeting, they begins to give you an idea of the extraordinary people that make up Kutch.

The many places that we spent time in were just as great as the people. First I would like to mention what a wonderful task the Bidada hospital had undertaken with its camp. The amounts of services that they provide are remarkable. Considering the hundreds of people we saw at both the orthopedics camp and cardio camp that we helped volunteer in, it is mind boggling to imagine how they serve so many people in so many camps all done without any charge. In addition, the Bidada hospital was also kind enough to provide us housing during our stay in Kutch. All the doctors, volunteers, organizers, and donors should really be commended for the great work that is done in the hospital and its medical camp.

When we visited Veeraytan it was great to see that they were providing education, shelter, and a future for so many young kids after the earthquake. Every member of our group immediately fell in love with these children because they were so full of life and literally jumping with joy. Another unique place in Kutch was the Ahimsa Dam right outside of Pragpur. There was a talented poetic orator who worked there that explained to us how animals are mistreated in everyday life. The Ahimsa Dam was like a nonprofit animal hospital in which injured animals were taken care of, given food, and rehabilitated until they could be returned to their owners or to the wild. I were also lucky to meet an amazing bull which weighed over 1500 kilos and practically had horns as big as me at his because he unfortunately passed away the next day. I was surprised to see the work doctors were doing there with natural medicines. One doctor claimed that his medicines, which all have a base in cow urine, could re-grow hair, treat diabetes, and in some cases cure early forms of HIV!!!

The 72 Jinalay took away my breath when I saw how exceptionally it had been constructed. Its size and beautiful design are unlike anything I have ever seen in the United States. The Panch Tithi (Suthari, Tera, Kothara, Jakhau, and Nalia) were also each unique in their own ways. My favorite temple was the one that was decorated with mirror tiles, which created a nice reflection in the room. I was also amazed to hear that the age of one of the statues was over 1500 years old. Another great work of architecture was the king of Kutch's Vijay Villas Palace. It was interesting to see how he had incorporated the western culture into his palace, which was also used in the movie Laagan. My favorite part however, was when the driver and I went through their orchard and were able to pick out fresh chikus and ambles to eat.

Another common aspect of Kutch that we saw was the destruction from the Earthquake. It was disheartening to walk through the city of Anjar on what used to be their main street and now see nothing but rubble. In Bhuj, there were still many houses that had not been repaired and we heard numerous stories about their efforts to rebuild. When we visited Gundala I found out over 90% of the buildings had fallen and it now seemed as if very few people still lived there. It was a shame to see the picture of Bhadreshvar and then stand in front of it only to examine the pieces that were left after it fell. But construction was starting there again and Kutch rebuilding itself reminded me of the beginning of spring after a harsh winter. Judging by how the people of Kutch carried themselves and the personal strength they showed, I never would have been able to guess an earthquake had ever occurred.

I must thank many people for making this trip possible. First, I would like to again thank Bachubhai Rambhia and Bidada Hospital for providing us with great food and a place to stay. I would also like to thank Hemant Rambhia, Sachin Visaria, and Nisha Jain for their great planning and organization. Finally, I would like to also thank my parents who took ten days of their time to guide our group and make sure we had the experience of a lifetime.

The comparatively simple life in Kutch has its own charm. Who would have thought a 19 year old boy who was born in America, had not been to India in over 6 years, and labeled an ABCD would be impacted so much by just 10 days? Now that alone says something about the powerful aura of our homeland. I only hope this paper can begin to show you how impressed I was by Kutch and feel free to call me if you want to hear how much my Kutchi has improved. I hope that when I am free after I graduate I will be able to spend some of my time there to both learn about my heritage and give back anything I can.